Sweet potato chips replacing chunky chips in Britain

Chunky chips are off the menu at many bars, restaurants and traditional fish and chip shops in Britain after the hot summer caused a smaller potato crop. The vegetables are much smaller than usual this year, meaning chips are smaller, prices are going up and in some cases sweet potatoes are being used instead.

The chips are down at Fish! in Borough Market, which has a fish and chip stand favoured by tourists visiting The Shard and the famous market. Nick Melmoth-Coombes, the executive chef at the restaurant told The Telegraph: “The potatoes are coming out smaller because of the drought in July and August. The width is still there but the length isn’t what it was last year – I’d say the chips are around 10 per cent shorter. This is because the whole potato is smaller, so there’s less to cut from.”

Fast food chain Leon has stopped using normal potatoes for its baked chips, instead using sweet potato – which has caused outcry from many customers.

The problem is widespread – vegetable trader Vernon Mascarenhas from Nature’s Choice at New Covent Garden Market supplies many of London’s leading restaurants and hotels, including The Ledbury and Le Gavroche. He told The Telegraph: “In the last few months, [sweet potato chips are] appearing on a lot more menus.